Human Development, Diversity and Behavior in the Environment
A woman whose child was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness is referred to a hospital social worker. The woman tells the social worker that her child is not ill and will not need to see the doctor again. What is the best explanation for the observed behavior?
A. Rationalization
B. Denial
C. Displacement
D. Intellectualization
What is B - Denial
A genogram is BEST described as
A. As a family tree
B. As a drawing of a family in its social environment
C. As a pictorial social history
D. As a snapshot of important interactions in a family
What is A - As a family tree
A social worker is asked to assist an elderly client in making alternative living arrangements. In the initial interview, the client repeatedly attempts to discuss past experiences. What is the social worker’s MOST appropriate initial response to the client?
A. Ignore the references to the past
B. Facilitate discussion of the recollections
C. Evaluate the client for dementia
D. Redirect the focus to the living arrangements
What is B - Facilitate discussion of the recollections
A social worker is involved with discharge planning with an elderly terminally ill man and his wife. The wife’s sister requests information about the couple. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Discuss the request with the patient’s physician
B. Discuss the request with the patient and his wife
C. Determine the reason for the request
D. Give the sister the information requested
What is B - Discuss the request with the patient and his wife
A hospital social worker interviews a couple whose infant has recently been hospitalized for cystic fibrosis. The social worker notices that the parents are reluctant to touch the child. Based on this observation, what should be the social worker’s FIRST intervention?
A. Have the parents talk about their reactions to the child’s illness
B. Refer the couple to an appropriate support group
C. Evaluate the situation for out-of-home placement for the child
D. Provide the couple with information about cystic fibrosis
What is A - Have the parents talk about their reactions to the child’s illness
The final component that should be included in the treatment plan
A. Time frames for measuring progress
B. Arrangements for payment for treatment
C. Ethical obligations on confidentiality
D. A safety contract
What is A - Time frames for measuring progress
During an intake interview with a social worker, a client requests a service that cannot be provided by the agency. In considering a referral of this client to another agency for the service, which of the following should be determined FIRST?
A. Any other community agencies that are already serving the client
B. The availability of emotional support from family and friends
C. Any previous experiences the client has had with other agencies
D. The client’s ability to pay for the needed service
What is A - Any other community agencies that are already serving the client
A social worker frequently refers clients to another social worker who has a specific area of expertise. The social worker becomes increasingly concerned that this colleague is having problems with substance abuse. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Call previously referred clients and inform them of this colleague’s situation
B. Contact the appropriate social work regulatory authority
C. Consult with the colleague about the situation
D. Share this information with others who make referrals to the colleague
What is C - Consult with the colleague about the situation
Which scenario is an example of role reversal in a parent-child relationship?
A. A seven-year-old girl comforting her distressed mother following a marital separation
B. A nine-year-old girl sharing her mother’s concerns about household bills that are unpaid
C. A single mother expecting her 10-year-old son to stay at home unsupervised
D. An 11-year-old boy demanding that his meals be on the table at a certain time
What is A - A seven-year-old girl comforting her distressed mother following a marital separation
A client with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is verbalizing destructive thoughts directed at herself. While she does admit to depression, she denies any intention to act on the thoughts. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Seek in-patient hospitalization of the client
B. Explore the basis of the depression with the client
C. Complete a suicide risk assessment
D. Refer the client to a psychiatrist for medication
What is C - Complete a suicide risk assessment
What is the MOST appropriate treatment approach with a client with a mood disorder that can be addressed within a limited time frame?
A. Cognitive behavioral therapy
B. Crisis Intervention
C. Insight-oriented psychotherapy
D. Client-centered therapy
What is A - Cognitive behavioral therapy
A social worker is faced with a practice situation that poses an ethical dilemma. Which of the following sources should be consulted FIRST?
A. The social worker’s current supervisor
B. The social work licensing board
C. The professional code of ethics
D. The social worker’s most experienced colleague
What is C - The professional code of ethics
A social worker is conducting an initial interview with a father and three teenage children. The mother died recently after a lengthy illness. Exploration indicates that the family members were not able to appropriately mourn the mother’s death. To help them cope with the unresolved grief, what should the social worker for FIRST?
A. Encourage the family to discuss their loss
B. Obtain information about the mother’s illness
C. Refer the family to a grief support group
D. Explore how the mother’s roles are now being fulfilled
What is A - Encourage the family to discuss their loss
As part of the social work process, how is assessment BEST described?
A. As a discrete task to be completed before effective intervention can begin
B. As a continuing process throughout the course of intervention
C. As a way to measure the effectiveness of the intervention process
D. As a method of setting the goals of the intervention process
What is B - As a continuing process throughout the course of intervention
A client states to a social worker that the social worker reminds him of his former fiancée and that he very much appreciates the social worker’s caring for him. What is this an example of?
A. Reaction formation
B. Countertransference
C. Transference
D. Halo effect
What is C - Transference
A client is concluding treatment at a family counseling agency. The client feels very appreciative of the social worker’s services. At the end of the interview, the client offers a substantial monetary gift to the social worker in addition to paying the fee to the agency. What should the social worker do?
A. Accept the gift, acknowledging the client’s contribution to the treatment
B. Refuse the gift, basing the action on ethical standards of practice
C. Accept the money with the understanding that it will be donated to a local charity
D. Refuse the personal gift and suggest that the client make a donation to the agency instead
What is B - Refuse the gift, basing the action on ethical standards of practice
A social worker conducts a home visit to a 45-year-old Latino client whose young son was killed in a recent automobile accident. The social worker observes that a large alter has been made, which contains many candles as well as pictures of the boy and other deceased relatives. The client sobs throughout the interview and tells the social worker that the boy has been communicating to the client nightly through angels. In order to most effectively work with the client, what should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Refer the client for a medical evaluation
B. Assess the client for psychotic symptoms
C. Explore mourning rituals of the client’s family
D. Evaluate the potential of self-harm
What is C - Explore mourning rituals of the client’s family
What is the BEST way for the social worker to enhance a client’s capacity to make decisions?
A. Analyze the situation for the client
B. Give the client written materials on decision making
C. Ask the client to make a decision independent of the social worker
D. Teach the client how to examine alternate solutions
What is D - Teach the client how to examine alternate solutions
What is the BEST reason for a social worker to use closed-ended questions?
A. To permit the client to be in control
B. To obtain specific information
C. To check out the client’s ability to take the initiative
D. To challenge the client’s point of view
What is B - To obtain specific information
When is a social worker allowed to violate confidentiality?
A. When a client initiates a lawsuit against the social worker
B. If a client is under the age of 18
C. If a client resides in a nursing home
D. When a client resists recommended social work intervention
What is A - When a client initiates a lawsuit against the social worker